Light switch apparatus, control system, and control method thereof

ABSTRACT

A light switch apparatus includes a network communication unit and an output unit. The network communication unit is configured to receive electricity price rate server information from a server, and generate a first high range electricity price output data and a second low range electricity price rate data according to the electricity price rate server information. The output unit is configured to display at least a first output color in response to receiving the first high range electricity price output data from the network communication unit, and a second output color in response to receiving the second low range electricity price rate data from the network communication unit.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/261,519, filed Jan. 29, 2019, entitled “LIGHT SWITCH APPARATUS,CONTROL SYSTEM, AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF, which claims the priority toU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/623,154, entitled “LIGHTSWITCH APPARATUS,” filed on Jan. 29, 2018, and U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/691,739, entitled “DATA EXCHANGE SYSTEM FOR LIGHTSWITCH APPARATUS OR WALL PLATE APPARATUS”, filed on Jun. 29, 2018, theentire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS

Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claimis identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the presentapplication are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of light switch apparatuses.More particularly, the present invention relates to light switchapparatuses capable of communicating status information to users anddimming connected lighting systems upon programmed or ad hoc pricesignal events as well as a control system and a control method thereof.

Description of the Related Art

Following the introduction of electronic metering, utility providers nowhave the capability of varying prices between times of low and highelectricity demand. As a result, electricity rates for residential,commercial and industrial customers can vary by time-of-day. Forexample, Time of Day metering (TOD) involves dividing the day, month andyear into tariff slots and with higher rates at peak load periods andlow tariff rates at off-peak load periods. TOD metering normally splitsrates into an arrangement of multiple segments including on-peak,off-peak, mid-peak or shoulder, and critical peak, but this meteringalso enables more dynamic pricing such as real time prices reflective ofactual fluctuations in market supply and demand. The times of high andlow demand/cost will vary in different markets around the world. Whilethe electricity rate schedule can be used to automatically control usageon the part of the customer, it is often simply the customer'sresponsibility to control their own usage, or pay accordingly. Oneapproach for a customer to save on the electrical bills is to reducelighting intensity or shift appliance usage away from time slots withhigh electricity rates, especially when higher intensity of usage is notneeded and increase usage during the periods of lowest prices,

There are light switches with dimmer functionality to meet energyefficiency requirements and customer lighting preferences. A variety ofmeans are available to control the diming of lights, includingrotational knobs, mechanical sliders, buttons, and more recently, solidstate touch-sensitive electrical switches which can be manually operatedby a user to increase and decrease the light intensity. There are alsolight switch apparatuses available to turn on or off the lightsaccording to a preprogrammed schedule or triggered by a sensed event,such as detected motion or sound. However, there are no convenientapproaches for automating the adjustment of lighting intensity accordingto highest and lowest electricity rate schedules while informing a userof the electricity rate change in a straightforward and intuitivemanner. The currently available light switch apparatuses also do notprovide highest and lowest electricity-price related information usingvisual or audible signals to assist users to optimize cost saving byusing the time-dependent electricity price information to make betterusage decisions.

Standalone devices to provide price information or other events havebeen demonstrated to significantly decrease energy usage from lessadvantageous price periods to more advantageous price periods, whichmaybe scheduled or ad hoc.

Therefore, there is continued need for systems that provide usersautomated and convenient means to save cost according to the highest andlowest electricity rates or other information and/or providestraightforward means to inform the end users of the time-dependentelectricity prices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One objective of the present invention to provide a light switchapparatus that offers automated and convenient means to save electricitycost according to electricity rate schedule and to inform a user of theelectricity rate changes or other relevant information.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a light switch apparatus isprovided. The light switch apparatus includes: a network communicationunit configured to receive electricity price rate server informationfrom a server, the electricity price rate server information comprisingat least a first server data indicative of a high range of a currentelectricity price rate and a second server data indicative of a lowrange of the current electricity price rate that is lower than the highrange of the current electricity price rate, the network communicationunit further configured to output a first high range electricity priceoutput data when the current electricity price rate is in the high rangeand to output a second low range electricity price rate data when thecurrent electricity price rate is in the low range; and an output unitconfigured to display at least a first output color and a second outputcolor that is different from the first output color, the output unitfurther configured to receive first high range electricity price outputdata and the second low range electricity price rate data from thenetwork communication unit, the output unit being configured to displaythe first color in response to receiving the first high rangeelectricity price output data from the network communication unit and todisplay the second color in response to receiving the second low rangeelectricity price rate data from the network communication unit.

In certain embodiments, the network communication unit of the lightswitch apparatus is configured to compare the first server dataindicative of the high range and the second server data indicative ofthe low range to a predetermined electricity rate price and to determinethat the first server data corresponds to a higher range electricityprice rate when the first server data is indicative of an electricityrate price that is higher than the predetermined electricity rate priceand to determine that second server data corresponds to a lower rangeelectricity price rate when the second server data is indicative of anelectricity rate price that is lower than the predetermined electricityrate price.

In certain embodiments, the output unit of the light switch apparatus isfurther configured to determine a highest electricity price range and alowest electricity price range and corresponding output colors basedupon electricity price information received from the server.

In certain embodiments, the output unit of the light switch apparatus isfurther configured to receive output information from the server basedon a determination of highest and lowest electricity price informationas determined by the server.

In certain embodiments, the output unit of the light switch apparatus isfurther configured to display at least one of a text or an iconaccording to the electricity price rate server information.

In certain embodiments, the output unit of the light switch apparatus isfurther configured to sound an alarm in response to the currentelectricity price rate being within the highest electricity price rangeor the lowest electricity price range.

In certain embodiments, the output unit of the light switch apparatus isfurther configured to detect a change in the current electricity pricerate from being in the highest electricity price range to being in thelowest electricity price range, and sound an alarm in response to thecurrent electricity price rate changing from the highest electricityprice range to the lowest electricity price range.

In certain embodiments, the light switch apparatus further includes awall plate; and the output unit is located on the wall plate to outputinformation according to the current electricity price rate.

In certain embodiments, the light switch apparatus further includes apower control circuit, wherein the power control circuit is configuredto turn on, turn off, maintain, increase, and decrease the luminousintensity of the external lighting apparatus according to the currentelectricity price rate.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a light switch apparatus isprovided. The light switch apparatus includes: a network communicationunit configured to receive server information from a server, the serverinformation comprising at least a first server data indicative of anevent determined by the server, the network communication unit furtherconfigured to output information according to the server information;and an output unit configured to display a first output color inresponse to receiving a first set of data from the network communicationunit and to display a second output color in response to receiving asecond set of data from the network communication unit.

In certain embodiments, the server information includes a high valuecorresponding to the first output color and a low value corresponding tothe second output color.

In certain embodiments, the server information includes a preset valuecorresponding to an output sound.

In certain embodiments, the server information includes data indicativeof specific events; the network communication unit is configured togenerate output color data according to the data indicative of thespecific events; and the output unit is configured to display colorsaccording to the output color data.

In certain embodiments, the server information includes data indicativeof specific events; the network communication unit is configured togenerate output audio data according to the data indicative of thespecific events; and the output unit is configured to output soundsaccording to the output audio data.

In certain embodiments, the light switch apparatus further includes apower control circuit, wherein the power control circuit is configuredto turn on, turn off, maintain, increase, and decrease the luminousintensity of the external lighting apparatus according to the serverinformation.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a light switch controlsystem is provided. The system includes: a server having a processor, amemory, and a server interface; and a plurality of light switchapparatuses, each light switch apparatus comprising: a networkcommunication unit configured to receive server information from theserver, the server information including a current electricity pricerate; a user input unit for a user to turn on, turn off, increase, anddecrease a luminous intensity of an external lighting apparatus; and anoutput unit configured to display an output color selected from a colorset, wherein: the color set includes a plurality of colors, each colorcorresponding to an electricity price range; the plurality of colorsinclude at least a first color corresponding to a highest price rangeand a second color corresponding to a lowest price range; and the outputcolor is selected from the color set according to the currentelectricity price rate.

In certain embodiments, for each light switch apparatus of the lightswitch control system: the configuration information corresponding tothe light switch apparatus includes a preconfigured rule correspondingto the light switch apparatus, the preconfigured rule including acorresponding relationship between electricity price rate ranges and anoutput color; the server interface is further configured to receive aselection of the preconfigured rule corresponding to the light switchapparatus; and the power control circuit of the light switch apparatusis further configured to turn on, turn off, maintain, increase, anddecrease the luminous intensity of the external lighting apparatusaccording to both the current electricity price rage and thepreconfigured rule.

In certain embodiments, the server interface is further configured toreceive an input of alarm information; the server information furtherincludes an alarm notification according to the alarm information; andthe output unit of each light switch apparatus is configured to displaythe alarm notification.

In certain embodiments, the server is further configured to group theplurality of light switch apparatus into one or more light switchapparatus groups; and the server interface is configured to assignconfiguration information corresponding to each light switch apparatusgroup.

In certain embodiments, the server interface comprises one of: a webinterface, a mobile device interface, and a smart device interface.

The above invention aspects will be made clear in the drawings anddetailed description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the functions, main components, andapplication environment of a light switch apparatus according to certainembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is perspective view of a light switch apparatus according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3A is a front view of a light switch apparatus according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3B is a front view of a light switch apparatus according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3C is a front view of a light switch apparatus according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4A is a front view of a light switch apparatus according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4B is a front view of a light switch apparatus according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4C is a front view of a light switch apparatus according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5A is a front view of a light switch apparatus according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5B is a front view of a light switch apparatus according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5C is a front view of a light switch apparatus according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a light switch apparatus according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the components of a light switchapparatus of the present according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 8 is diagram describing the operation of a light switch apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is diagram describing the user reset operation of a light switchapparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the functions and main components ofthe light switch control system according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the functions and main components ofthe light switch control system according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of the server organizing andcommunicating with groups of devices according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating the light switch control methodaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, itwill be understood by those skilled in the art that these are specificembodiments, and that the present invention may be practiced also indifferent ways that embody the characterizing features of the inventionas described herein.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a light switch apparatus.FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the functions, main components, andapplication environment of a light switch apparatus according to certainembodiments of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a light switchapparatus 100 may include a power control circuit 150 that controls andadjusts the input power to an external lighting apparatus 200. The powercontrol circuit 150 may be operated to turn on, turn off, keep,increase, or decrease the lighting intensity of the lighting apparatus(such as a light bulb) 200 based on certain information or conditions,such as a pre-programmed schedule, a user input, a received message, anevent trigger. In certain embodiments, the event trigger may begenerated by a motion detector 130 or a sound activation module 135 todetect the presence of people in the vicinity. The light switchapparatus 100 may also include a user input unit 120 that offers a usera means to reset the lighting intensity or resent notifications, forexample, to increase the lighting intensity that has been dimmedaccording to a pre-programed or preconfigured rule or schedule. The userinput unit 120 may be embodied as switches, buttons, dial nobs, sliders,a touch screen, and so on. It may be configured to allow the user tomanually turn on, turn off, or adjust the light intensity of theexternal lighting apparatus 200.

The light switch apparatus 100 may further include anotification/display component 110 to notify the user of the highest orlowest electricity rate information or a rate change of electricity orother information. The notification may be embodied as visual displaywith colored LED light indicators, LCD screens, or OLED displays. Italso can be embodied as audio signals such as alarm, a buzzer, bells andchimes, or other sounds from a speaker.

The light switch apparatus 100 may further include a power source 190,such as one or more chargeable, non-chargeable, or solar cell batteries,to maintain operation during a power outage event. The light switchapparatus 100 may further include a network module 170 to obtainexternal data from a server 300 or to connect with additional userdevices 400.

The network module 170 provides network connections such as throughWIFI, Bluetooth, ZigBee or other standardized communication protocols.Using the provided network connection, the light switch apparatus 100may communicate with the server to import electricity pricing data orother relevant information.

The light switch apparatus 100 may also connect to additional userdevices 400 such as smartphones, computers, and smart home devices whichmay comprises customized software interfaces 410 to communicate with thelight switch apparatus 100 and the server 300. The external user devices400 and software interfaces 410 may be used to set lighting schedule,accepts user input (such as a reset command), and provide additionalrelevant information such as highest or lowest electricity priceinformation, associated signals or other information to the light switchapparatus 100.

FIG. 2 is perspective view of a light switch apparatus 100 according tocertain embodiments. As shown in FIG. 2, the light switch apparatus 100may be a retrofit device that can be fit into a wall-mounted switchboxby a wall plate 502. The switch buttons 122 are used as user input unitand can be further used as display components as will be described inFIGS. 3A-4C. Additional electrical and electronic components, such asthe power control unit and the network module may be contained in acompact housing 102, which can fit into existing light switch apparatusbox and connect to electrical appliances with connection wires 506.

FIGS. 3A-3C are front views of a light switch apparatus according tocertain embodiments. As shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, color displays may beincorporated to the switch buttons 122 to inform the users of differentinformation, including the highest and lowest, levels of energy pricesdepending on times of day during a year or dynamic prices from externalsources such as an energy or other company seeking to notify users. Theswitch buttons 122 change color depending on the level of the price,price period, or detected changes in energy price rate based on higherand lower price levels. For example, highest, lowest and non-highest orlowest, considered the medium price periods may be displayed as red(FIG. 3C), green (FIG. 3A), and orange (FIG. 3B) on the switch buttons122, respectively. These display colors may prompt users to take certainactions such as increase or reduce energy use, based on low or highprice levels, or take notice of some other information alert representedby a color. In certain embodiments, the color displays 110 may beimplemented as backlit colored light generated by LED indicatorsincorporated behind the faces of the switch buttons 122. They may alsobe implemented by, for example, incorporating LCD or OLED screens to theswitch buttons 122.

FIGS. 4A-4C show front views of a light switch apparatus according tocertain other embodiments. As shown in FIGS. 4A-4C, in addition to colordisplay 110, embedded display of images, icons and text may be availablefor the switch buttons 122 to convey additional information to the user,such as weather, temperature, status of energy bills, status of variousconnected appliances uses, highest or lowest electricity price rates ormessages that call users to take certain actions. These displays may beimplemented, for example, by incorporating LCD or OLED screens to theswitch buttons 122.

FIGS. 5A-5C show front views of a light switch apparatus according tocertain other embodiments. As shown in FIGS. 5A-5C, the colored lightindicators 110 may be placed outside of the switch buttons 122. LEDlights may be used to signal highest or lowest electrical prices orother information.

Alternatively, LCD or OLED screens and sound mechanisms may beincorporated in the wall plate surrounding a light switch 502 to conveyinformation to the user including highest or lowest electricity pricerate information. For example, FIG. 6 shows a front view of a lightswitch apparatus according to certain other embodiments. As shown inFIG. 6, one or more display/notification components 110 may beincorporated in the wall plate 502. These display/notificationcomponents 110 may be embodied LCD or OLED to display images, text, andsymbols in addition to color display to convey additional information tothe user, such as temperature, status of energy bills, status of variousconnected appliance uses or messages that call users to take certainactions.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the components of an embodiment of thelight switch apparatus 100 according to certain embodiments. As shown inFIG. 7, the power control circuit 150 may pre-programmed to adjust theoutput power to an external lighting apparatus 200 according toelectricity pricing schedule information or a preconfigured rule 310. Bypushing the switch button 122, a user may inform the power controlcircuit 150 to reset the lighting intensity, for example, to increasethe lighting intensity that has been dimmed. Furthermore, an LED controlcircuit 114 may use the schedule information 310 to control the colordisplay of one or more colored LED indicators 112. The light switchapparatus 100 may also comprise an alert sound control circuit 118 togenerate an audio signal with a speaker 116 to alert a change ofelectricity price or other information.

FIG. 8 shows the operation of a light switch apparatus according tocertain embodiments. First, in step 610, a user finds the time-dependentutility rate on a web portal, for example, from the utility provider'swebsite or application associated with the light switch apparatus. Next,the user selects the applicable rates and times to make schedule (step620) and transmit schedule or preconfigured notification information tothe light switch apparatus 100 (step 630). The selection 620 andtransmission 630 can be performed on an external user device 400 with acustomized software interface 410. This way, the power control circuit150 may be programmed to adjust lighting output according to schedule(step 640). The electricity rate price information, preconfigurednotification or schedule information 310 is also used to control thecolored-LED and alert sounds (step 650).

Alternatively, in certain embodiments, the light switch apparatus 100may receive real-time information including a current electricityprices, critical emergency type alerts or other related notificationsfrom a server to inform users of ad hoc information. Colored-LED 112 andalert sounds 118 may be triggered by such events. And the power controlcircuit 150 may adjust the output power to an external lightingapparatus 200 according to the current information or alerts.

FIG. 9 shows the user reset operation of an embodiment of the lightswitch apparatus 100 according to certain embodiments. When the lightingapparatus is dimmed by the power control circuit 150 according topre-programmed schedule, a user has the option to reset the lightingintensity to full power by pushing the switch button 122 (step 710). Thereset signal is sent to the power control circuit 150, which in turnresets the lighting output to full power (step 720). The colored LEDdisplay may also be adjusted accordingly (step 730) to reflect thestatus of the lighting.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a light switch controlsystem. In certain embodiments, the light switch control systemcomprises a server having a processor, a memory, and an interface. Theserver maybe in communication with a plurality of light switchapparatuses to send them relevant information for controllingcorresponding lighting apparatus such as light bulbs. Detaileddescription of the light switch apparatuses may be found in the forgoingembodiments and accompanying drawings, and will not be fully describedagain.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the functions and main components ofthe light switch control system according to certain embodiments. Asshown in FIG. 10, the system may include a server 1100 in communicationwith a plurality of a light switch apparatuses 1200 or a light switchwall plate 1300. The system 1100 may receive signals and inputs from auser device, a third party, and/or a system administrator. The system1100 may send out data on the status of the light switches to the thirdparty and/or the administrator.

For example, in certain embodiments, the server 1100 may download anelectricity price rate schedule or other information from a third partyfor a geographical area where a particular light switch apparatus islocated send the price rate schedule, preconfigured notification, orother information to the light switch apparatus. The system may generatea pre-programmed schedule according to highest, lowest and non-highestor lowest electricity prices, the electricity price rate schedule withpreconfigured notification signals and send the information to the lightswitch apparatus. The signals or schedule may contain a time-dependentluminous intensity according to the electricity price rate schedule oruser determined configuration. For example, a light source may be dimmedduring a period of electricity price rate or price rate change accordingto the pre-programmed lighting schedule or user inputted configurations.Further, a user or a system administrator may access the server tocustomize the pre-programmed lighting schedule or make a selection froma list of pre-defined lighting schedules according to user preference orother factors. The light switch apparatus 1200 may adjust the outputpower of a light source according to the received electricity price rateschedule, detected changes in electricity price rates, and/orpre-programmed light schedule. The light switch apparatus 1200 may alsoinform a user the status or changes in electricity price rate via anoutput unit, such as a color display or an alarm bell.

Further, the system administrator or a third party may send an emergencyalert, such as extreme weather alert, a flood warning, and soon, to theserver 1100. The server may deliver the alert to a light switchapparatus located in a relevant geographical area, so that the lightswitch apparatus may display the alert information to the user. Thesystem administrator or a third party may also send a non-emergencynotice to the server 1100 associated with a particular light switchapparatus or a particular user, such as a package delivery notice, autility bill overdue notice, and so on. The server may determine anappropriate means to inform the user of the notice.

Further, the server 1100 may collect the status data from the lightswitch apparatus 1200 on the status of the lighting intensity, oradditional information from a user device.

In certain embodiments, the server may include an interface. As shown inFIG. 11, the system interface 1600 may receive one or more input signals1601 and translates the input signals 1601 to the corresponding varyingdevice signals 1602 such as different color displays or icons or alertsounds associated with high or low electricity prices. The devicesignals 1602 may be transmitted to corresponding devices, such as lightswitches 1200 and wall plates 1300 for control the operation of thesedevices. The user may use the system interface 1600 to program thebehaviors and settings of their devices.

The interface 1600 may be configured to provide information from a thirdparty using audio or visuals signals to light switches or light switchwall plates, and to inform a user of energy price changes or otherrelevant information. For example, the interface 1600 may be used forthird parties to define messaging including energy price informationthat can be provided to users through a light switch or light switchwall plate display in the form of light signals, sounds, emoticons orother images, which have specific defined meanings to users such as thestatus of energy bills, rate levels, status of various connectedappliance uses or messages that call users to take some action triggeredby an external third party source. In certain embodiments, the interface1600 may also comprise programming choices light switch or light switchwall plate users can select from to program the behavior, interfaces andsettings of their devices. The interface 600 may also be used to conveydata from the system back to third parties or a system administrator.

In certain embodiments, a plurality of light switch apparatus and/orother devices may be grouped into one or more device groups, and userdata are communicated to multiple devices as a group. FIG. 12 is aschematic diagram of the server 1100 organizing and communicating withgroups of devices 1700. As shown in FIG. 12, communication may becarried on between the server and multiple devices as a group andindividually. The server may be used to organize light switch or lightswitch wall plate users into groups by location, situation or otherattributes to differentiate signals received by individual users fromthe system. In certain embodiments, the system 1100 may also be used toaggregate data of light switch or light switch wall plate userinteractions with the devices. The data then may be presented to theadministrator, a third party, or the user through the server interface.The server may be further configured to aggregate the apparatus statusinformation corresponding to each light switch apparatus into a data setand present the data set through the server interface.

In certain embodiments, the server 1100 may be implemented as anindividual physical computing server connected to the internet. In otherembodiments, the server 1100 may be implemented as a distributed cloudserver. The server interface may include a software interface installedon the physical computing server, or it may include software interfaceinstalled on user devices remote from the server. Alternatively, theserver interface may be implemented as web interface, a mobile deviceinterface, or a smart device interface.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a light switch controlmethod is provided. The light switch control method may be applied toone or more light switch apparatuses. Detailed description of the lightswitch apparatuses may be found in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-9and the accompanying description, and will not be fully described again.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating the light switch control methodaccording to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 13, the light switch control method may include the followingsteps.

In Step 1310, a light switch apparatus may receive server informationfrom a server, the server information including a current electricityprice rate. In certain embodiments, the light switch apparatus mayfurther receive a pre-programmed schedule from the server. Further, thelight switch apparatus may receive additional information, such asalerts and/or notice information from the server.

In Step 1320, the light switch apparatus may control input powerprovided to an external lighting apparatus to turn on, turn off,maintain, increase, or decrease a luminous intensity of the externallighting apparatus according to the current electricity price rate.

In Step 1330, the light switch apparatus may receive a user input for auser to turn on, turn off, increase, and decrease the luminous intensityof the external lighting apparatus. The user input may be receivedthrough a user input unit, such as switches, buttons, dial nobs,sliders, a touch screen, and so on. It may be configured to allow theuser to manually turn on, turn off, or adjust the light intensity of theexternal lighting apparatus. Alternatively, the user input unit may beimplemented through a user device, such as a mobile phone, a personalcomputer, a tablet, and so on, which is connected to the light switchapparatus through a network connection. A user interface may bepresented on the user device for the user to access the light switchapparatus.

In Step 1340, the light switch apparatus may display server information.In certain embodiments, displaying server information may includedisplaying one of a set of colors according to the current electricityprice rate, each color corresponding to a range of electricity pricerate.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings illustrate theprinciples, preferred or example embodiments, and modes of assembly andoperation, of the invention; however, the invention is not, and shallnot be construed as being exclusive or limited to the specific orparticular embodiments set forth hereinabove.

1.-20. (canceled)
 21. An electrical appliance switch system, comprising:a physical power switch member moveable between an on position and anoff position and having an outer surface; a computer-readable memoryhaving stored thereon executable instructions; a processor incommunication with the computer-readable memory and configured toexecute the instructions to cause the electrical appliance switch systemto at least: receive electricity price rate server information from aserver, the electricity price rate server information comprising atleast a first server data indicative of a high range of a currentelectricity price rate and a second server data indicative of a lowrange of the current electricity price rate that is lower than the highrange of the current electricity price rate; and output a first highrange electricity price rate output data when the current electricityprice rate is in the high range and to output a second low rangeelectricity price rate output data when the current electricity pricerate is in the low range; an output unit comprising a display thatilluminates the outer surface of the physical power switch member, withat least a first output color and a second output color that isdifferent from the first output color, the color emitted determined by acontrol signal; and a controller that sends the control signal to thedisplay directly in response to receiving the first high rangeelectricity price rate output data and the second low range electricityprice rate output data.
 22. The electrical appliance switch systemaccording to claim 21, wherein the processor is configured to comparethe first server data indicative of the high range and the second serverdata indicative of the low range to a predetermined electricity rateprice and to determine that the first server data corresponds to ahigher range electricity price rate when the first server data isindicative of an electricity rate price that is higher than thepredetermined electricity rate price and to determine that second serverdata corresponds to a lower range electricity price rate when the secondserver data is indicative of an electricity rate price that is lowerthan the predetermined electricity rate price.
 23. The electricalappliance switch system according to claim 21, wherein the output unitis further configured to determine a highest electricity price range anda lowest electricity price range and corresponding output colors basedupon electricity price information received from the server.
 24. Theelectrical appliance switch system according to claim 21, wherein theoutput unit is further configured to receive output information from theserver based on a determination of highest and lowest electricity priceinformation as determined by the server.
 25. The electrical applianceswitch system according to claim 21, wherein the output unit is furtherconfigured to display at least one of a text or an icon according to theelectricity price rate server information.
 26. The electrical applianceswitch system according to claim 21, wherein the output unit is furtherconfigured to sound an alarm in response to the current electricityprice rate being within the highest electricity price range or thelowest electricity price range.
 27. The electrical appliance switchsystem according to claim 21, wherein: the output unit is furtherconfigured to detect a change in the current electricity price rate frombeing in the highest electricity price range to being in the lowestelectricity price range, and sound an alarm in response to the currentelectricity price rate changing from the highest electricity price rangeto the lowest electricity price range.
 28. The electrical applianceswitch system according to claim 21, additionally comprising a plate,and wherein the output unit is located on the plate to outputinformation according to the current electricity price rate.
 29. Theelectrical appliance switch system according to claim 21, furthercomprising a power control circuit, wherein the power control circuit isconfigured to turn on, turn off, maintain, increase, and decrease thepower of an external electrical appliance according to the currentelectricity price rate.
 30. An electrical appliance power switch system,comprising: a computer-readable memory having stored thereon executableinstructions; a processor in communication with the computer-readablememory and configured to execute the instructions to cause the system toat least: receive server information from a server, the serverinformation comprising at least a first server data indicative of anenergy price determined by the server; and output information accordingto the server information; a power switch member switchable between anon state and an off state and having an outer surface configured forswitching between the on state and the off state upon actuation contactby a user; and an output unit comprising a display that emits at leastfirst and second output colors at the outer surface of the power switchmember in response to receiving a control signal; a controllerconfigured to send first and second control signals to the display inresponse to receiving the server information; the controller configuredto send to the display the first control signal corresponding to thefirst output color in response to receiving a first set of data from theprocessor indicating a first electricity price and to send the secondcontrol signal to the display corresponding to the second output colorin response to receiving a second set of data from the processorindicating a second electricity price different from the firstelectricity price.
 31. The electrical appliance power switch systemaccording to claim 30, wherein the server information includes a highvalue corresponding to the first output color and a low valuecorresponding to the second output color.
 32. The electrical appliancepower switch system according to claim 30, wherein the serverinformation includes a preset value corresponding to an output sound.33. The electrical appliance power switch system according to claim 30,wherein the server information includes data indicative of specificevents; the processor being configured to generate output color dataaccording to the data indicative of the specific events; and the outputunit is configured to display colors according to the output color data.34. The electrical appliance power switch system according to claim 30,wherein the output unit is further configured to display at least one ofa text or an icon according to the first server data indicative of anenergy price.
 35. The electrical appliance power switch system accordingto claim 30, further comprising a power control circuit, wherein thepower control circuit is configured to turn on, turn off, maintain,increase, and decrease power delivered to an electrical applianceaccording to the server information.
 36. A power control system for anelectrical appliance, the power control system, comprising: a serverhaving a processor, a memory, and a server interface; the memory havingstored thereon executable instructions; the processor in communicationwith the memory and configured to execute the instructions to cause thesystem to at least send server information, the server informationincluding at least a current electricity price rate; at least first andsecond power switch apparatuses, each of the first and second powerswitch apparatuses comprising: a power switch member switchable betweenan on state and an off state and having an outer surface; a networkcommunication unit, the network communication unit in communication withthe server configured to receive server information from the server, theserver information including a current electricity price rate; a displayconfigured to illuminate the outer surface of the power switch memberwith an output color light selected from a color set, wherein the colorset includes a plurality of colors, each color corresponding to anelectricity price rate range, wherein the output color light is selectedfrom the color set according to the current electricity price rate. 37.The system according to claim 36, wherein for each of the first andsecond power switch apparatuses: the configuration informationcorresponding to the power switch apparatus includes a preconfiguredrule corresponding to the power switch apparatus, the preconfigured ruleincluding a corresponding relationship between electricity price rateranges and an output color light; the server interface is furtherconfigured to receive a selection of the preconfigured rulecorresponding to the power switch apparatus; and the power switchapparatus is further configured to turn on, turn off, maintain,increase, and decrease power output to an external electrical applianceaccording to both the current electricity price rate and thepreconfigured rule.
 38. The system according to claim 36, wherein: theserver interface is further configured to receive an input of alarminformation; the server information further includes an alarmnotification according to the alarm information; and an output unit ofeach of the first and second power switch apparatuses is configured todisplay the alarm notification.
 39. The system according to claim 36,wherein the display is further configured to display at least one of atext or an icon.
 40. The system according to claim 36, wherein theserver interface comprises one of: a web interface, a mobile deviceinterface, and a smart device interface.